Surgical package.



F. P. GATES, D. GOGSWELL & H. L. GRANT.

SURGICAL PACKAGE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 190a.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN P. GATES, JOHN D. COGSWELL, AND HENRY L. GRANT, OF MANTEO, NORTH CAROLINA.

SURGICAL PACKAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANKLIN P. GATES, JOHN D. CoeswnLL, and HENRY L. GRANT, citizens of the United States, residing at Manteo, in the county of Dare, State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Surgical Package, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved surgical package for physicians, hospital, and home use in the treatment of female disorders, such as vaginitis, inflammatory condition of the uterus and appendages, and all catarrhal conditions of the mucous membranes, such as, leucorrhea, etc. The usual treatment of such disorders comprises the insertion within the vagina of a tampon,

saturated with a solution to lessen the inusually inserted before the patient goes to ing so ution and towhich a cord or string is p bed and is removed in the morning so as not to disturb the functions of the patient during the day. a The tampon, as generally used, comprises a sterilized sponge or some sterilized reparation which will absorb the healattached for the removal thereof. The healing solution is, as a rule, formed of a solution of glycerin with some healing agent, such as boric acid. Heretofore the tampon in its dry state and the solution have been kept separate for the reason that the solution soon deteriorates by eva oration when left in the air and the tampon becomes hard and useless Therefore it has always been necessary in this treatment to immerse the tampon in the solution just before use. This is at times inconvenient, especially when the physicians time is limited and where it is also necessary to prepare the solution at the same time. Furthermore with the ordinary form of tampon it is necessary to insert the same through a speculum for the reason that the solution otherwise would be squeezed out of the tampon in its passage through the vagina before it reached the proper position.

The object of this invention is to do away with the necessity of keeping the tampon and solution separate by combinin 'both in a receptacle w1th a medicated fluid which not only prevents the air from coming into contact with the solution but also forms a lubricating coating on the tampon when the same is withdrawn from the receptacle.

The advantage of this invention is that the physician, nurse, or patient may have at all times on hand a surgical package ready for immediate use without any further preparation. The coating of the medicated fillld on the tampon facilitates its insertion in the vagina and also retains the solution within the tampon until it is in the desired position. The lubricating coating allows the patient to use the tampon treatment at home without the necessity of a speculum.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Figure 1 is a view of the complete surgical package, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a view of the tampon and stopper showing the means of connection between the same.

In the drawing, 1 represents a suitable receptacle of convenient form, which is shown as a large mouthed bottle.

2 is a stopperof cork or other suitable material forming a closure for the receptacle 1.

3 is a tampon of usual construction, preferably a sponge.

4 is a cord secured at one end to the tam on 3.

5 is an attachment on the inner side of the closure 2 through which the free end of the cord 4 is adapted to pass.

6 is a healing solution in which the tampon is completely submerged.

7 is a medicated fluid of less specific gravity than the solution 6 completely covering the same and insoluble therem.

I As shown in Fig. 1, the surgical package is complete and ready for use. To extract the tampon, the stopper is removed which at the same time withdraws the cord, the free end of the cord passing through the attaching device on the under side of the stopper. The cord is gras ed and the tampon is withdrawn from the ottle. The healing solution is preferably a solution of boric acid and glycerin, comprising 20 grs. of boric acid to 1 oz. of glycerin. The covering fluid is preferably medlcated petrolia alba which comprises a solution of white petroleum oil containing I one er cent. boric acid and ten grains of ment 01 to the gallon.

One of the difficulties heretofore encountered has been that the glycerin used as a solvent for the healing agent also dissolves solution of the same without intermingling any lighter fluid which may be placedover the healing solution to act as an air seal there- 5 for. The lighter fluid may remain separate for a short time but as soon as it becomes dissolved in the glycerin and becomes a part of the solution the air will come in contact with the solution, cause the glycerin to evaporate and expose the tampon which, when exposed to the air, will become hard and useless. This property of glycerin has made it impossible heretofore to construct a surgical package which will not deteriorate with age. We have discovered that medicated petrolia alba possesses the property of being insoluble in glycerin and will at all times float upon a with the solution. The insolubility of this fluid in the solution provides a seal for the package which defies age and prevents the deterioration of the solution. A further property of medicated petrolia alba, beyond its insolubility in glycerin, is that it possesses great power for reducing inflammation.

When the tampon is withdrawn from the bottle it must pass through the medicated fluid covering the solution and a portion of the fluid will cling to the irregular outer sur face of the tampon forming a coating which not only confines the solution within the tampon but alsolubricates the same during its passage within the vagina.v The lubricating coating of the medicated tampon is partially or wholly removed by its contact with the walls of the vagina. The portion of the coating remaining on the walls of the vagina instead of having an injurious or neutral effect, acts to reduce any inflammation thereof below the position of the medicated tam on. This complete surgical package is sma l and compact, may be readily carried or shipped without danger to its contents, is always ready for use, and may be kept any length of tune with perfect safety and will not deteriorate.

While the invention is shown and described in the preferred form, it is to be distinctly understood that minor changes may be made in the same without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

An ever ready surgical package comprising the combination of a receptacle, a solution of boric acid and glycerin therein, a tampon saturated with the solution and com pletely submerged therein, a covering of medicated mineral oil over the solution, a cord secured at one end to the medicated tampon, a stopper or closure for the receptacle, and a cord attachment secured to the inner portion of the stopper for the passage of the free end of the cord to removably secure the cord to the stopper.

FRANKLIN P. GATES. JOHN D. COGSWELL. HENRY L. GRANT.

Witnesses:

DAVID M. STRINGFIELD, WILLIAM HOLWEELL. 

